Chapter 42: The Full Moon Night

“Humming.”

Beside the pillow, his phone kept vibrating, waking the person fast asleep on the bed.

Lu Ran rubbed his eyes, fumbling blindly beside the pillow until he grabbed the phone and mumbled, “Hello?”

“Brother!” came a sweet, lively voice from the other end of the call.

“Who is it?” Lu Ran sat up, his head throbbing.

How come sleeping made him even more tired?

“My foolish brother!”

The girl’s voice, annoyed, came through the phone: “I already called you brother—who else could I be?”

“Yuanxi.” Lu Ran slapped his forehead. “I’m still half-asleep.”

Qiao Yuanxi, Lu Ran’s younger sister, took her mother’s surname Qiao Wanjun, and was one year younger than Lu Ran.

Though their parents’ divorce meant they grew up apart, it never damaged their bond.

When Lu Ran turned thirteen, his mother brought him back to Jingcheng, and for three years the siblings lived under the same roof, their closeness undiminished.

“You slept all day and still aren’t awake?” Qiao Yuanxi whispered. “I’ve been awake for hours.”

Lu Ran was truly groggy—he turned to look out the window and saw night had fallen, the rain still pouring.

What the hell!

Lu Ran frowned, a familiar unease rising in his chest.

Did I forget something important again?

Why do I say “again”?

Right—after the Mad Dog Village trial, I came home, slept, and woke up the next morning feeling like I’d forgotten something.

What was it?

“Brother?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” Lu Ran scratched his head in frustration.

“So boring. Every full moon, it’s like being under house arrest,” Qiao Yuanxi complained. “Locked up for days on end.”

“Heh.” Lu Ran couldn’t help smiling.

He understood perfectly.

Even as a believer, he had to stay home during the 16th to 18th days of the lunar month—nowhere to go.

Demons might still be roaming the city.

The city, in ruins, needed official cleanup and repair.

“What are you laughing at?” Qiao Yuanxi switched tone, concerned. “Did you get hurt last night?”

“Hurt?” Lu Ran followed the principle of only sharing good news. “Your brother nearly went berserk!”

“Like a god, damn it!”

“Don’t swear!”

“Oh? Now you’re telling me what to do?”

Qiao Yuanxi’s voice turned soft: “My phone’s on speaker. Mom’s listening.”

Lu Ran: “...”

“Hehe~” Qiao Yuanxi burst into giggles. “Dummy, I’m kidding!”

Lu Ran: ???

Damn!

I’m usually the one messing with others—today I met my match.

Qiao Yuanxi: “When are you coming to visit me? I want a burger.”

Lu Ran sighed. “Buy one yourself. Do I have to buy it for you?”

Qiao Yuanxi muttered softly: “It’s such a waste to throw away the lettuce.”

Lu Ran: “...”

Are you serious?

For three whole years, how many burgers have we eaten? How many lettuce leaves have I chewed for you?

You’re treating me like a sheep... Wait?

Don’t you dare say it—don’t you even think about saying it!

Qiao Yuanxi: “Quick, tell me when you’re coming to see me?”

Lu Ran hesitated.

The full-moon city defense duty was essentially the final exam for second-year students—today marked the start of his summer break.

But as a new believer, his first summer assignment was heavy.

Before senior year began, Lu Ran had only about one month to upgrade his school-awarded equipment.

The equipment consisted of:

First, the Divine Power Pearl awarded after the New Recruit Trial (Mad Dog Village).

Second, the weapon awarded after the first city defense mission.

For example, if you ranked tenth in the Mad Dog Village trial and received a Mist-grade Divine Power Pearl,

then during summer, you could kill demons in the Demon Caves, collect one hundred Mist-tier Demon Crystals, and submit them to the military.

If you met the requirement, the military would upgrade your Mist-grade Divine Power Pearl to a Stream-grade one.

Special note:

Students operated in teams—not every member needed to submit one hundred Mist-tier Demon Crystals; four members together needed to submit one hundred total.

If that’s the case, why did Lu Ran think this task was hard?

Because the school had awarded him the best possible reward: a Stream-grade Divine Power Pearl!

So for Lu Ran and his team to upgrade their gear, one hundred Mist-tier Demon Crystals wouldn’t be enough.

They needed one hundred Stream-tier Demon Crystals!

Or, by proportional conversion, one thousand Mist-tier Demon Crystals!

It was definitely hard.

But Lu Ran really wanted to try!

After all, the reward was enormous!

If Lu Ran succeeded and upgraded his Stream-grade Divine Power Pearl to a River-grade one...

Then for the rest of high school, whenever he took on any school mission, his endurance would never be an issue!

Two words: Takeoff~

“You don’t like me anymore,” Qiao Yuanxi said softly after a long silence.

“No, no,” Lu Ran explained. “I’m a believer now—I have to train in the Demon Caves.”

Qiao Yuanxi: “Can we go together?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Lu Ran was unusually serious. “The Demon Caves aren’t a playground.”

At his current level, Lu Ran couldn’t protect his sister.

Even if he were invincible, the military would never allow a civilian into the Demon Caves.

Qiao Yuanxi: “I need training too!”

Lu Ran nearly laughed in disbelief: “What training? Practicing courage?”

“Hmph.” Qiao Yuanxi pouted. “I’m a believer too.”

“You’re a believer... what?”

“I am.”

“You’re a believer...?” Lu Ran’s whole body froze.

“My foolish brother...”

Qiao Yuanxi murmured, echoing Lu Ran’s tone: “I’ve been a believer for fifteen days already, and you didn’t even know. [86] The first thing I said on the phone was ‘I’ve woken up’—you didn’t catch a thing. [87] I didn’t sleep all night—I went on the city defense mission too!”

The first thing I said on the phone was, 'I'm already awake,' and you didn't notice a thing.

I didn't sleep all night either—I went to join the city defense mission!

Lu Ran was stunned: “You’re sixteen, in first year—you haven’t even qualified for the Worship Ceremony. How are you a believer?”

Qiao Yuanxi whispered: “After the Worship Ceremony ended, while the altar was still half-demolished, I snuck over and tried it.”

Lu Ran: “Huh?”

While the altar was still being taken down? Sneaked over and tried?!

His sister was always mischievous, but Lu Ran never imagined she’d be this reckless.

Qiao Yuanxi looked genuinely troubled: “Oops—I accidentally succeeded~ [94] The teachers and classmates were all stunned. I’m the only believer in the entire first-year class—haha!”

My teacher and classmates were all stunned—there was only me, a believer, in the entire first-year class, haha!

Lu Ran: “Huh???”

“Hehe~” Qiao Yuanxi beamed. After half a month of secrecy, she finally got the reaction she wanted.

Deep down, she’d secretly hoped her brother would figure it out himself.

Lu Ran’s head was buzzing.

I struggled desperately on the Worship Altar, begging every god in heaven—and none of them answered.

You just snuck over and did it... and succeeded?

“Wait.” Lu Ran said irritably, “You’re lying to me again?”

“I’m not lying. I specifically told Mom not to tell you, to see when you’d notice.” Qiao Yuanxi sighed dramatically.

This girl had always had a flair for drama: “After all this time, you really don’t care about me at all.”

“My stupid, heartless brother.”

Lu Ran asked directly: “What deity do you worship?”

“I’m a follower of a Third-Rank Deity! She’s an incredibly beautiful goddess!” Qiao Yuanxi smiled. “Can you guess who?”

Lu Ran immediately perked up: “Yu Fu?”

“Not the deity my father worships,” Qiao Yuanxi said with a strange expression. Could Yu Fu be described as “beautiful”?

Yu Fu was clearly a male deity!

“Then who?” Lu Ran was curious.

Qiao Yuanxi’s eyes darted. “Come to Jingcheng to visit me? If you come, I’ll tell you.”

Lu Ran thought for a moment, then decided: “Once my teammates and I finish our summer assignment, I’ll come find you right away.”

“It’s a deal!” Qiao Yuanxi feared he’d change his mind and hung up immediately.

“Impressive.” Lu Ran put down his phone, filled with awe.

At sixteen, she’s already become a deity’s follower?

Usually, one needs to be seventeen or eighteen—deities require certain physical and mental strength from their followers.

Hmm. Her birthday really is early.

That’s why she’s named “Yuanxi”—she was born on Lantern Festival.

So, even though Qiao Yuanxi is sixteen, her body and mind are already prepared?

We don’t know about her mental state, but physically, she’s grown into a graceful young woman.

When we met during the New Year, she was already 1.68 meters tall.

That all makes sense, but the real question is—

Did Qiao Yuanxi secretly worship a deity—and succeed?

Half a month ago, when Lu Ran attended the worship ceremony, he noticed something unusual.

This year, the probability of students becoming followers had increased dramatically compared to previous years!

So, is Qiao Yuanxi one of the beneficiaries of this recent expansion of deities’ followers?

“Third-Rank Deity follower,” Lu Ran murmured. “Yuanxi… you’re something else.”

You’re almost catching up to me!

After all, no matter how talented you are, the deity you worship is still just a deity.

You haven’t stepped outside the deity’s hierarchy.

But I—

I summoned Yanzhi… hmm?

Lu Ran suddenly frowned. Mentioning Yanzhi, he vaguely remembered something.

Yanzhi.

Yanzhi?!

Lu Ran rubbed his forehead in frustration. After a long while, his body suddenly trembled.

Like a startled cat, every hair on his body stood on end!

I remember!

I had a dream.

In it, there was a seductive, stunning Yanzhi, and a statue of a breathtakingly beautiful Yanzhi.

And a terrifying ram’s head, burning with black fire.

No—

My dreams weren’t just those!

I also dreamed of a dog statue, a Blood Calamity Dog statue—

Lu Ran whirled around, staring into the altar, at the serene, luminous white jade ram sculpture.

On its white jade face, the same kind smile remained.

Its two hind legs stood firmly on the ground; its two front legs were clasped together in a respectful bow, radiating friendliness and humility.

It stood there quietly, always, forever in this gentle, benevolent pose.

But now, Lu Ran felt nothing but chilling dread!

(End of Chapter)